Why do cute girls mostly talk to you during the 2% of your life that you're not ready?

I swear to God, it's one of the great mysteries of life. I used to comfort myself by saying "just learn from it, mate. Be ready. next time". And perhaps I've gotten better at it, but not much.

Tonight it happened again. I was leaving the racquet club after a back / bi workout and steam / sauna and I was walking out barefoot on account of the clear iodine I'd just put on my fungus toenails, so I suppose was feeling insecure or something.

On my way out this cute 20-something chick says "nice shirt" in reference to the "LIONS NOT SHEEP" tank top I have on. I say "thanks" and continue to the car on account of my bare feet. In hindsight I realize I looked like an absolute unit to her - walking out at 6'1.5" barefoot in a right wing t-shirt in Portland. She would not know about my toenails, who the frick knows or even cares but me? Nobody can see that they aren't even that bad. If this had happened literally any other time during the past week I'd have been all over it and chatted her up.

I fricking LIVE for moments like this, and somehow I didn't even start kicking myself until I was pulling into my driveway. She was probably guest of the club as well, not a member since I didn't recognize her and there was a USTA tournament going on, so I'll likely never see her or have the chance to chat her up again.

A chica probably 15 years my junior trying to engage me and I say "thanks" and keep walking. Crazy. I put in so much work getting dates with girls 5 to 8 years older than her and less attractive and then I frick up on organic situations like this. Oof.

Learn from my mistakes, mates - even if I continue to fail to.